Termites – The enemy within!
Termites are the nemesis of any property owner or perspective buyer as these tiny creatures have the power to reduce a building to a heap of sawdust. They can be found in some parts of France just like in the south west of England. They may be small but the damage they can do to your home is important. Luckily, however, in France there are very stringent laws and regulations that should leave you in no doubt that the property that you are investing in is handed to you in the best possible condition.
Termites and your property
If you are buying a French property in a region that has termites then according to the French Property Act the vendor must provide a ‘termite free’ certificate to prove that the property is free of the pests. This termite report has to be done by a qualified expert. It is the responsibility of the owner to notify the authorities by recommended letter with recorded delivery if there is a suspected infestation. After this the Mairie then carries out an investigation with a professional expert to map out the affected area and make sure that the inhabitants treat the problem within six months. If a survey is required, then it cannot be dated earlier than six months from the sale contract. The termite report itself only lasts for three months. As a result of this reporting system the notaire handling a sale will take care of all correspondence regarding the issue, writing to the Prefecture to find out whether the house that you want to buy is in a termite infested zone or not. He or she will then make sure a report is carried out by the owner, which means that you have minimal involvement as is not your responsibility to get this report carried out.
What are termites?
Termites are a kind of white ant that differs from other xylophagous insects because they are organised into a society like bees and ants. In the wild they feed on dead plant material and play an incredibly important part in the ecological system, as they are the ones who recycle dead wood and other plant matter. Unfortunately their ecological brilliance is not quite as beneficial or appreciated in the world of property. Since they can feed on such a vast amount of plant material, they can easily cause serious structural damage to buildings, crops and plantations of forests.
Where do they live? Where are they found?
There are 2,000 species of termite in the world and seven of these can be found in France. There are ‘underground’ and ‘dry wood’ termites; underground termites causing the most damage to a property. Just as it is the south west that is affected in England, the same applies to France; they are mainly in the regions of the Midi-Pyrénées, Languedoc-Roussillon and the Aquitaine, where the warmer climate suits the insect. However in recent years, due to an annual increase in summer temperatures throughout the country, termite infestations have been spreading further into the north as well. Termites also need a water supply, for example, in your house, a leak in a poorly maintained wall or something as simple as condensation on a water pipe can be enough for a colony to take up residence.
Taking 5 years for a colony to mature and grow you would think that you would notice termites long before they became too much of a problem. But the inherent furtiveness of their existence means that five years could quite easily pass with you being none the wiser to your slowly disintegrating house. This is why it is important to keep checking for termites and when investing in a property, to make sure that all the laws and regulations regarding termite inspections have been adhered to.
Why are they a problem? What do they do?
Termites are a terrible pest because they penetrate into houses and wooden structures along mortar joints, through waste pipes, through electric cable ducts, and through inner partitions. They take advantage of any cracks in the structure of a building, entering into the woodwork and beginning their destruction. They always eat away in the opposite direction to the light, thus making it very difficult to detect. The main problem is that termites eat the wood from the inside out so it is impossible to see the damage until it is too late. They are also likely to go for wood that is close to the ground, so foundations in older buildings are particularly susceptible.
What to watch out for:
Homeowners should watch out for old tree stumps that are close to the property and have not been dug up, as these provide the perfect base for a termite colony to build their nest around. If these stumps are close to the house then it is very likely that the termites will have begun to eat their way into the building itself. The most common types of termites are pale brown in colour but in all honesty you are unlikely to see the little pests wandering around your house as they move around in networks of tunnels underground. In the swarming period in spring you might notice them more as the workers turn into winged termites, and when they find a mate they shed their wings. But in general what you can keep an eye out for is termite droppings. They look like sawdust or particles of sand that have been scattered around or forms a kind of trail. This is a clear sign that your house has a termite infestation. More obvious signs of infestation can be seen on the wooden structures of your house which resembles a hollow bee hive structure.
How do you treat termites?
Treating a termite problem is not something that can be effectively done without professional help. There are various ways to get rid of termites:
• Destroy the colony with insecticides – these are injected directly into the wood. Small holes are drilled into the area and the chemicals are pumped in, getting rid of the colony. The holes are then sealed with a caulk, isolating both the chemicals and the termites.
• Fumigation – although this is a more extensive procedure it is very effective. It involves putting a tent around the diseased structure and pumping in fumigant to get rid of dry wood termites.
• Boric Acid – this is a direct wood treatment. The acid is dissolved in water and then painted onto the wood.
• Electricity – high voltage electrical shocks from electro-guns can be used to get rid of termites.
• Heat and freezing – treatment involving liquid nitrogen and propane heat.
The thing to remember is that it is the vendor’s responsibility to provide you with evidence of the termite report if you are buying in an infected area, and if you have seen the paperwork proving that treatment has been carried out then there is nothing to worry about. The stringent French law ensures that termite infestations cannot pass by undetected and will not, therefore, jeopardise your dream home.